The Boston Globe says that that Fr. Tom Reese’s departure from America “worries Catholic publications.”
The announcement Friday that the Rev. Thomas J. Reese, an oft-quoted commentator [
“Commentator?” Commenting isn’t the problem; giving space to dissent is.
] on the workings of the Catholic Church, has been forced to resign after seven years as editor of America magazine has sent shock waves through the worlds of Catholic journalism and academia. Reese was ousted [
“Ousted”: They’re assuming facts not in evidence; the official line is that he and his superiors decided it was time for him to step down.
]after facing five years of criticism [
What is the evidence for that criticism? Who said this is what happened?
] from the man who is now Pope Benedict XVI for publishing articles that questioned the Vatican’s writings [
They’re not just “writings” as if they’re just another opinion; they are the dogmatic teachings of the Church’s infallible authority.
] on issues such as same-sex marriage, stem cell research, and salvation for non-Christians.
I’m left wondering what Catholic editors are worrying. I’m not worried. I know that Phil Lawler, my boss at Catholic World Report, isn’t worried. I’m pretty sure that Brian Saint-Paul at Crisis isn’t worried. I’m positive that Father Richard John Neuhaus at First Things isn’t worried. Ditto for the editors at the National Catholic Register, Our Sunday Visitor, The Wanderer, and so on. None of us are worried.
So who’s worried? And more importantly, why are they worried? Have they done something they need to worry about?
Dom,
It worries me that you are not worried that so many schismatic and heretics are worried that that worrisome fellow in Rome is worried about them!
Worrywort!!!
If I was at America and NCR (the other one), I know I’d be worried – about my aging subscriber base!